Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Rise and shine!! Although I would prefer to rise and shine in another four or five hours.. Talk about jet lag! We woke up today, and made our way to breakfast. It was very different from an American continental breakfast, and included a large variety of croissants, rolls, meats, cheeses, and fruits. We too a quick stroll by the lake on the clear and crisp morning before heading to the IES Orientation sessions. Fun facts from orientation: if I lived in Italy, I would have 48% more income taxes, have a 40% less chance of being employed, have a 95% less chance of being fired, pay 60% less for health care, and live 2 years longer! Italy is about the size of Arizona.
For lunch, we went to a local pizzeria, and I drank my first Italian beer! During our break after lunch, we decided to stroll around the peninsula. We ran into an amazing five star resort with gardens that should be surrounding a castle. Also, there were lots of sulfur pools around, which are called the "original spas" because they are so great for your skin. You are required to wear a bathing cap when entering the water! We decided to tour the castle of Sirmione, which portrayed the symbol of Venice since Venice had control of the city in ancient times. When we tried to pay with the student discount, the lady could tell we were Americans and said the discount was only for local Europeans ( haha). The castle had incredible views, looking over Lake Garda into the mountains, looking over the brick rooftops of the cities with their patio gardens, and looking along the length of the peninsula. We ate at the same restaurant in our hotel, with a fabulous view over the lake. Dinner consisted of a prosciutto ham with mozzarella appetizer, mozzarella risotto, and a tiramisu- type desert. We even got bottles of wine for the table.
Later that evening, about ten of us strolled to a local wine and cheese bar, where they told us that it was too late to cut their cheese but we could still order wine! It was a great day in Sirmione with gorgeous weather!
- comments